Measurement invariance of language brokering extent and attitudes in linguistic minority adolescents: Item response theory analyses

Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2019 Apr;25(2):170-178. doi: 10.1037/cdp0000224. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Abstract

Objective: Using item response theory, we sought to evaluate measurement invariance of language brokering extent and attitudes in 3 linguistic minority groups of adolescents.

Method: The sample included 765 (302 Chinese American, 327 Korean American, and 136 Mexican American; 57% females) ninth graders from immigrant families.

Results: Differential item functioning was detected for several items, and we retained items with equivalent parameters across 3 groups. The final items showed adequate internal consistency reliability and criterion validity.

Conclusion: The refined scale is cross-ethnically invariant and appropriate for use with Chinese-American, Korean-American, and Mexican-American adolescents to compare their language brokering experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / ethnology
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Asian / psychology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Language
  • Linguistics*
  • Male
  • Mexican Americans / psychology
  • Minority Groups / psychology*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*
  • Translating